I continue to be gobsmacked by the sequence of miles between what Obama said and what people—not even in his San Francisco audience—purport to have heard.
One expects Hillary Clinton and McCain to make a meal of this once they have distorted his words sufficiently to raise a row. One expects the media to leap upon it and ping-pong the issue until the table dies.
One does not expect “regular” people to be so dense, so paranoid, so eager for slights.
A chap called a local NPR show to note that he had been for Obama but now was pulling away because (1) Obama had become a racist like David Duke, and (2) he was “talking down” to working folk. Duh? The former has been based on Obama’s allusion to his grandmother’s typical white person comment and the latter on the fact that Hillary says McCain is an elitist.
The entire fracas reminds me of when I was in high school and Adlai Stevenson brought his presidential campaign to my school for an evening, public speech. Riding to school the day after on a public bus I overheard two satisfied house dresses of approximately my age now opine that Stevenson SAID he did not believe in God. Thus, of course, they would never consider voting for him. Even had I not been at the speech and known that Adlai said no such thing I was smart enough to know that no politician would ever say such a thing. Such is the tyranny of the pious in our world.
It would be nice if more people who heard what Obama said would step forward and protest this ludicrous racket. It is, alas, certain to hurt him given the public’s reluctance to believe their own ears.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Tex // Apr 30, 2008 at 8:09 am
I am shocked that ‘Da Professor’ is purporting to be “gobsmacked” by the thinking abilities of the ‘regular’ people as it were. I would have discerned that you were far enough down the road in political voyeurism that nothing on the top side of God’s green earth would come at you from unforseen origins!
Ahh well…life’s surprises continue to present little treasures.
Please continue to be the innocent idealist to your cause Puffin.
2 admin // Apr 30, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Ah so, Tex. Not sure I was clear in that post. I was gobsmacked that folks did not understand Obama’s Penn. comment about people being bitter and jumping on guns, racism, etc. as ways to provide some security against the unknown that threatens most of us.
But, hey, if I appear innocent, so much the better. Problem with politics these days is that there is no innocence left.
3 Tex // May 2, 2008 at 8:33 am
Words mean things…I believe the slogan goes. When politicos speak, people listen and hear what they want to hear.
I am one that disbelieves any promise uttered by anyone seeking votes for a political office.
Overall, the MSM has been very forgiving for BO’s continued missteps.
Most folks are upset with the majority of wanton politicians that promise the world and deliver zilch!
I suppose that we all merely misunderstood or percieved wrongly, BO’s most recent adventure of throwing his pastor under the bus along with his grandmother and as of yet he has not disavowed his relationship with the great American terrorist, William Ayers formerly of the Weather Underground insurgency that bombed government buildings and spouts his pride in doing that and is now il Professore at the U. of IL.
Whatta country…only in America where a murderer of innocent can be rewarded with tenure at one of our places of ‘higher learning’.
I wave a middle finger at that faculty of nimcompoops.
4 admin // May 2, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Ack, if “words mean something” then one cannot blithly note that people “hear what they want to hear” without also noting that people are poor listeners and close-minded.
As for Obama tossing his pastor, when he refused to, you fulminated about that. Now that he has disavowed Wright for his determined excesses and misrepresentation of Obama, you censure him for that. How is the guy to win your positive attention. Not that this motivates any of his actions.
5 Tex // May 19, 2008 at 6:28 am
It is not up to me for BO to win my ‘positive attention’ as you bloviate so well…it is his move to make..and up to now..I only see his inexperience in vitally important areas that could cause this country huge negative results.
To be fair and speak honestly, I find some of McCain’s vital statistics lacking as well.
Frustrated with the system am I..well hell yes I am and giving the choices of those who seek the highest office in the land, my future looks bleak.
I still believe, although, that this country as a whole can survive the worst of the wrath that individuals can hurl against this democratic republic. My example is Congress. In all it’s infinite wisdom, we are still the economic engine that drives the world. There is hope eternal as the sages say.
6 admin // May 22, 2008 at 11:45 pm
Gotta leave a little room to see rainbows, Tex.
7 Tex // May 25, 2008 at 4:11 am
Tis hare to find any rainbows when there are so many storms about, but I can appreciate your thought.
8 Daniel // Jun 2, 2008 at 4:59 am
I read similar article also named What People Hear, Folio 2, and it was completely different. Personally, I agree with you more, because this article makes a little bit more sense for me
9 admin // Jun 2, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Wow, Dan, I had no idea I had stolen that title. very weird. But I appreciate your comment. What did the other article with this title say?
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